Partnership Finder

We collect books from publishers, libraries, shops and individuals, sort and stamp them and redistribute them free of charge to organizations working with homeless people, prisons, offenders and ex-offenders, womens refuges, refugees,asylum applicants and others with limited funds. We want to see more Borderline Books groups in other locations - it is an excellent project for ex-offenders to run. We can offer an 'office in a box', plus initial supply of books and a wealth of experience. The project is very flexible and could be combined with literacy classes or writing groups as well as giving useful job-training skills. We sometimes have to turn down book donations as we don't have funds to bring them up to Gateshead so local editions would be great.

We are particularly interested in working with more prisons. Do get in contact.
We are also providing free books to custody suites in the North East. Enquiries welcome.

We are a project of the Kittiwake Trust charity number 1165318

Career Connect is a charity whose core business is the provision of all-age careers information, advice, guidance and support. We enable people to make realistic choices, based on sound information, to help them achieve their potential in learning, training and employment. Established in 2001, we deliver services across NW England providing: The National Careers Service across NW NOMS CFO Evolution contract for NW of England through our wholly owned subsidiary Achieve. We deliver a programme that prepares and supports offenders into employment with a 32% sustained outcome rate. Careers information, advice and guidance services for young people (formerly badged as Connexions) across Greater Merseyside and Salford. Unlocking Potential social impact bond funded programme to support 4200 young people with behavioural, moderate mental health and wellbeing issues prepare for and enter the world of work. We also have staff embedded in Trouble Families teams and an adviser in Hindley YOI.

Caritas Care's ACE (Assisted Community Engagement) Project provides an assisted seamless transition from custody to community and reduces the risk of reoffending by ensuring that essential needs are met without it being necessary to revert to a life of crime. Support is provided by volunteers and paid staff to address their needs, as identified by NOMS.

The organisations is changing futures through entrepreneurship. We work with men and women in custody, and those on probation in the community. Its services enable participants to discover and unlock their entrepreneurial talent and develop a pathway to a crime free future.
Its main activities are:
1: Education and Learning workshops
A: EXPLORATION:
The participants skills and experience are explored so they can understand how those skills can be developed and utilised. This will enable them to consider future career options either as an employee or becoming self-employed.
B: INSIGHTS:
Focuses on the key elements and steps needed to become self-employed. This includes: Business planning, sales and marketing techniques, finance and funding, trading legally and HMRC requirements.
2: Employment and Training
A: SMART SUBCONTRACTING:
Provides the participants with a detailed guide on how to become a legally registered sub-contractor in the construction sector.

The Margaret Carey Foundation, now trading as UpCycle, helps offenders to help others, whereby offenders learn new skills and pay something back to society. Its activities include recycling bikes in prison workshops for distribution in UK and abroad, and helping the environment and people in need. Offenders gain qualifications to help them be more ready for employment. We are also working to set up new workshops in prisons and in the community for offenders on licence and ex offenders. We also work with young people both in young offender institutions and those at risk of entering the criminal justice system within the community

POPS is a user-led organisation, supporting families through their contact with the criminal justice system (CJS) as a result of a loved one’s conviction.

POPS’ work:
 strengthens & rebuilds family ties
 creates safe spaces for families & under-represented communities to speak out about issues affecting them
 increases public awareness of the impact of the CJS
 advocates for changes in public policy & commissioning.

POPS provides:
 Family Support Services at 14 prisons across the North-West/Yorkshire/Leicestershire;
 Community-based support for women through the Farida Women’s Centre (Oldham);
 Community-based support for people on probation and their families (Wellbeing Service - Greater Manchester);
 Prison & community-based education programmes;
 Community-based interventions for prisoners from BAME backgrounds;
 Advocacy & support for under-represented communities.

Therepritic Interventions and Engagement

Our group provides Trans Awareness and Equality Training to the Prison and Probation services, provides training on the PSI and guidance for the Care and Management of Trans Offenders. We visit prisons to support Trans and Gender Diverse offenders, give support upon release and occasionally provide accomodation in our Trans Community House to suitable Trans Offenders on release.
Our chair person also serves as a member on the Transgender advisory Board to the prison and probation service and is also a member of the Inside Gender Identity NHS England T&F group for improving the health care and support of Transgender Offenders, including secure accomodation.